“Well, heave out, Roger,” said Captain John, “you can go across and get the milk, anyhow, as soon as you’ve bathed.”
“Double lot today because of the Amazons and Captain Flint,” called the mate. “We’ll have to take some with us when we go whaling.”
It was a quick bathe that morning for the boy and the able-seaman. The able-seaman did not bother about pearls, and she drove the boy out to dry as soon as he had shown that he could swim both ways, on his front and on his back. Then they hurried across for the milk. They came back to find everybody but the mate of the Swallow busy setting up fishing rods.
“You’re not really going off to Cormorant Island, Able-seaman?” said Peggy. “You know there’s nothing there. You’d much better come whaling with us.”
But Able-seaman Titty was not to be persuaded, and the Boy Roger, though he thought rather well of whaling, made up his mind to follow the able-seaman.
After breakfast, while the others were busy catching minnows to be ready for Captain Flint, Mate Susan made them each a large packet of sandwiches and bunloaf, and gave them a bottle of milk.
“Now remember, Roger, Titty’ll be in command, and you’ll do just what she tells you.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” said the boy.
“What shall we have for a pickaxe?” said the able-seaman.
“You don’t want a pickaxe,” said the mate.
“Of course we do,” said the able-seaman. “The treasure may be fathoms deep.”